The Doctor's Runaway Bride

Tia felt her heart lurch. She really, really didn’t want the baby to come early. She wanted to have a normal, healthy full-term baby like everyone else. What had she done to deserve this? Why couldn’t she have had the sort of birth that she’d read about in the glossy magazines?

Tears pricked her eyes and she cursed herself for being so emotional. Before she’d become pregnant she’d considered herself to be a resilient person, someone who hardly ever cried, but today she felt as though there was a dam inside her, waiting to burst.

Sharon must have noticed because she waited for Dan to leave the room and then slipped her arms around Tia.

‘You poor thing. You must be so worried, but try not to be, sweetheart. We’ll sort you out. Have a good cry if you need to. It’s mostly hormones, you know that as well as I do. And disappointment.’ She nodded wisely, the gentle expression in her eyes showing that she’d understood everything that Tia was feeling. ‘Everyone assumes that they’ll have a normal pregnancy and delivery but it doesn’t always happen that way.’

Tia sniffed and rubbed away the tears with the back of her hand. ‘I don’t know why I’m being so pathetic.’

‘Because you’re worried,’ Sharon said simply. ‘We all have certain expectations about childbirth and when things deviate from what we’re expecting we feel cheated, but the truth is that plenty of people have less than perfect textbook births.’

‘I know.’ Tia sniffed again and gave a watery smile. ‘I just want the baby to be OK.’

‘Tia, nothing is going to happen to your baby with both Dan and Luca in charge,’ Sharon said soothingly, gathering up Tia’s belongings and handing them to her. ‘Now then, can you manage these on your lap if I push you in the wheelchair?’

Tia nodded. ‘Thanks, Shaz.’

Sharon pushed her up to the ward and helped settle her into a side room.

‘I feel guilty, taking a side room,’ Tia mumbled, and Sharon waved her hand dismissively.

‘Nonsense. It’s the least we can do for you and, anyway, for once we’re not actually that busy at the moment. If we have to move you out, we will. In the meantime, the room is yours.’

Tia settled herself on the bed and gave a sigh. ‘Am I allowed to move around?’

‘Well, there’s no way I’m bringing you a bedpan, if that’s what you’re asking,’ Sharon said dryly. ‘But, seriously, I think you should take advantage of the opportunity to get some rest. How’s that pain now?’

‘About the same,’ Tia admitted, rubbing a hand across her swollen abdomen.

‘OK. Well, I’m just going to sort out that dexamethasone and then we need to do those blood tests Luca requested.’ Sharon walked towards the door and propped it open, smiling as one of the student midwives entered. ‘Have you been shopping?’

‘As instructed.’ The girl passed two bags to Sharon who walked back into the room armed with magazines, books and flowers. ‘Here we are—a few things to keep you occupied.’

Tia started to laugh as she poked through the bags. ‘Shaz, I can’t possibly eat all that chocolate! I’m the size of a house already.’

Sharon put her hands on her hips and surveyed Tia through narrowed eyes. ‘Not a house. More a small cottage, I should say, but it doesn’t matter because the chocolate isn’t for you. It’s for us poor midwives who have to look after you.’

Tia shook her head, still smiling. ‘And I suppose you’re going to hide in here and read my magazines as well?’

Sharon clicked her fingers. ‘Bother. You’ve rumbled my clever plan.’

‘Thanks, Shaz.’ Tia folded her legs underneath her and reached for one of the magazines. Maybe being in hospital wouldn’t be so bad after all.

At least she felt safe.

CHAPTER NINE

SHARON sorted out the injection and the tests and then suggested that Tia take a nap.

When she awoke it was dark on the ward and Luca was sprawled in a chair by her bed, his eyes closed. Dark stubble was beginning to appear on his hard jaw.

‘Luca.’ She struggled to sit up, strands of sleek blonde hair falling over her eyes. ‘How long have you been here?’

‘About an hour and a half.’ He suppressed a yawn and gave her a sleepy grin that did something strange to her insides. ‘I’ve had a really good sleep. It seems that while no one seems to give a second thought to bleeping me at home, if I’m in my girlfriend’s hospital room I’m given total peace and quiet. I’m thinking of leaving you here permanently.’

She smiled. ‘I’m sorry I woke you.’ Her voice was still scratchy with sleep and he reached out a lean hand and switched on the bedside lamp so that he could see her more clearly.

‘How’s that pain?’